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Enthusiastic STEM tutor with more than 20 years' experience
Theresa L.

4.9 (27 ratings)

84 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $75
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About Theresa

Bio

I have over 20 years’ experience tutoring a wide range of ages and topics. My favorite subjects are biology, chemistry, and math, as well as the strategies involved in test-taking. As a tutor, my biggest strengths are my patience and enthusiasm. Understanding how the world works through the lens of science and math is an AMAZING process! I find it incredibly satisfying to watch students' eyes light up as they learn, and I work hard to make the process enjoyable.

My educational path has...

I have over 20 years’ experience tutoring a wide range of ages and topics. My favorite subjects are biology, chemistry, and math, as well as the strategies involved in test-taking. As a tutor, my biggest strengths are my patience and enthusiasm. Understanding how the world works through the lens of science and math is an AMAZING process! I find it incredibly satisfying to watch students' eyes light up as they learn, and I work hard to make the process enjoyable.

My educational path has been non-traditional, but I hold four degrees, culminating in a PhD in Neuroscience from Stanford. Besides two decades of free-lance tutoring creating materials to help students grasp complex ideas, I’ve also worked in more formal settings as a teaching assistant, and more recently had the delightful opportunity to work as an adjunct lecturer covering a capstone molecular biology class and a neurogenetics course.

My excellence as a tutor stems from the combination of an enormous range of teaching experiences and my own personal progress through academia. Science has always come easily to me, and I often found the material so intuitive that I informally tutored classmates during the courses I took. On the flip side, mastering math topics required me to seek out a tutor, and I struggled in every math course before the pieces finally clicked into place for me partway through calculus. This blend of experiences gives me a unique empathetic perspective to help students facing similar struggles, while still having the depth and breadth of knowledge needed to aid their learning.

I want to be very clear that inclusivity is incredibly important to me. I recognize that many people are afforded fewer opportunities based on race, gender, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, as well as many other axes of structural oppression. Because these factors contribute to students' learning, I'm happy to tailor my style to best suit the needs of each individual.

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Education

San Jose State University
Molecular Biology
Stanford University
Masters
Stanford University
PhD

Policies

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Approved Subjects

Algebra 1

Algebra 1

I've tutored algebra 1 for almost 10 years, both for individuals and small groups. My early experience was with college students, and I later expanded to work with middle- and high-school students. I'm very well-versed in which areas tend to be stumbling blocks, and I have many techniques to help students overcome difficult material. In addition to algebra topics, I have also tutored pre-algebra and trigonometry (as well as more difficult math classes). Because of this, I can help students use the tools and skills they've already built, as well as point out particularly useful components for classes they will take in the future. It's often helpful for students to know how they'll use the knowledge they're currently acquiring, and I find that to be particularly helpful in teaching math.
Algebra 2

Algebra 2

I've tutored algebra for almost 10 years, both for individuals and small groups. My early experience was with college students, and I later expanded to work with middle- and high-school students. I'm very well-versed in which areas tend to be stumbling blocks, and I have many techniques to help students overcome difficult material. In addition to algebra topics, I have also tutored elementary math and pre-calculus (as well as more advanced math classes). Because of this, I can help students use the tools and skills they've already built, as well as pointing out particularly useful components for classes they will take in the future. It's often helpful for students to know how they'll use the knowledge they're currently acquiring, and I find that to be particularly helpful in teaching math.
Biology

Biology

I have 4 degrees, all in biology, the most recent of which is my PhD in Neuroscience from Stanford. I've taught as an adjunct lecturer as well as a teaching assistant for both lab and lecture sections. I've done years of hands-on bench work and am thoroughly familiar with scientific methods and pedagogy. Beyond the education and hands-on applications in biology, I have also tutored the subject for nearly two decades. In that time, I've helped students at every stage from middle school to upper division graduate coursework, and I have a depth and breadth of knowledge that makes tutoring the subject a great deal of fun.
Chemistry

Chemistry

My grades in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry were outstanding (both lecture and lab, where offered). I have done both group and individual tutoring for all of the above-mentioned classes at the high school and college level, as well as teaching supplemental instruction sections at the college level. Additionally, in two academic research labs, I've utilized biochemical assays, so I have hands-on experience with problem solving in ways that are, perhaps, less traditional within a classroom setting. Given my extensive tutoring experience, I'm well aware of common pitfalls and knowledge gaps in these topics and have devised many examples and explanations to help students master areas of difficulty. I deeply enjoy helping students understand the fundamentals of chemistry in order to apply them more broadly.
Elementary Math

Elementary Math

I've tutored in math topics of all varieties for almost 10 years, both for individuals and small groups. I have often worked with students learning elementary math, and because it's so fundamental to doing well in more advanced classes, I often review these skills with other students, as well. It's often helpful for students to know how they'll use the knowledge they're currently acquiring, and I find that to be particularly helpful in teaching math. My early experience was with college students, and I later expanded to work with middle- and high-school students. I'm very well-versed in which areas tend to be stumbling blocks, and I have many techniques to help students overcome difficult material. I also worked in a tutoring center with drop-in hours, which was particularly helpful in both identifying problem areas and finding multiple ways to explain ideas.
Genetics

Genetics

I received A's in an in-depth molecular biology class which heavily covered genetics as well as the upper division genetics course. I was also a TA (solo teaching) multiple genetics discussion sections for different professors across 2 years, as well as developing curriculum for those discussion sections. Additionally, I was a researcher and lab manager for a developmental genetics academic lab where my duties included instructing new lab members in fly genetics, among other topics. My undergraduate degree is in molecular biology, and my undergraduate and graduate projects included ongoing extensive work in genetics. I have comprehensive hands-on experience both from a research perspective and also from a teaching standpoint.
Prealgebra

Prealgebra

I've tutored in pre-algebra for almost 10 years, both for individuals and small groups. My early experience was with college students, and I later expanded to work with middle- and high-school students. I'm very well-versed in which areas tend to be stumbling blocks, and I have many techniques to help students overcome difficult material. In addition to the pre-algebra topics, I have also tutored elementary math and algebra (as well as more difficult math classes). Because of this, I can help students use the tools and skills they've already built, as well as pointing out particularly useful components for classes they will take in the future. It's often helpful for students to know how they'll use the knowledge they're currently acquiring, and I find that to be particularly helpful in teaching math.
Precalculus

Precalculus

I've tutored pre-calculus for almost 10 years, both for individuals and small groups. My early experience was with college students, and I later expanded to work with middle- and high-school students. I'm very well-versed in which areas tend to be stumbling blocks, and I have many techniques to help students overcome difficult material. In addition to pre-calculus topics, I have also tutored algebra and calculus (as well as more advanced math classes). Because of this, I can help students use the tools and skills they've already built, as well as pointing out particularly useful components for classes they will take in the future. It's often helpful for students to know how they'll use the knowledge they're currently acquiring, and I find that to be particularly helpful in teaching math.
ACT Math
ACT Science
Elementary Science
Geometry
Grammar
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
Physical Science
Probability
Proofreading
Spelling
Study Skills
Trigonometry
Vocabulary
Writing
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Ratings and Reviews

Rating

4.9 (27 ratings)
5 star
(25)
4 star
(1)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(1)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Knowledgeable and thorough tutor

Thank you for helping our daughter. It has been wonderful working with you with Chemistry and Math. She is getting a lot out of the lessons

Hart, 11 lessons with Theresa

Knowledgeable

My son was very happy. She is very knowledgeable and is a hardworking tutor. We are very happy that we chose her as the tutor.

Durga , 16 lessons with Theresa

Excellent tutor

Chemistry Honors- she was able to explain concepts to my daughter very well. My daughter liked her and we have setup weekly lessons with her. She was flexible with her schedule and could come to meet.

Shubhra, 7 lessons with Theresa

Very knowledgeable and patient with my 12 yo.

Theresa taught Algebra-2 to my daughter. She taught her the concepts that my daughter was weak in, and then gave her problems to make sure she understood. My daughter loves her and she is a really good tutor. Thank you, Theresa.

Vivek, 3 lessons with Theresa

Detailed and organized tutor.

Theresa explained concepts in a very clear and concise manner. She was also very patient and helpful. We're looking forward to working with her again in the future.

Mark, 1 lesson with Theresa
Hourly Rate: $75
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